On Wednesday, the Senate decisively voted down three resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that sought to block a major arms deal with Israel.
The Vermont senator had aimed to prevent the delivery of $20 billion worth of military supplies, including tank rounds, mortar rounds, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). Sanders cited what he called “unacceptable civilian death and harm” in Gaza as his reason for opposing the deal.
Although the arms sale had already been approved by Congress, the vote provided an opportunity to gauge Democratic support in the Senate for the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to Israel’s war with Hamas.
In total, 19 senators—17 Democrats and two independents—supported at least one of Sanders’ three resolutions. Those in favor included Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), George Helmy (D-N.J.), and Sanders himself.
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) chose to vote “present,” while Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) did not cast votes.
Ahead of the vote, Sanders delivered sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of waging an “all-out war against the Palestinian people” rather than focusing solely on the Hamas terror group. Sanders further claimed Netanyahu had “violated international and US law” and argued it was “illegal for our government to provide him with more offensive weaponry.”
Sanders introduced the resolutions after a Biden-Harris administration-imposed 30-day deadline for Israel to improve its humanitarian efforts in Gaza expired. According to global aid organizations, Israel did not meet demands to significantly increase aid to civilians in Gaza.
The resolutions faced firm opposition from top Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
“Israel needs to protect itself not just today, but also tomorrow and next year and beyond,” Schumer stated. “It has been a cornerstone of American policy to give Israel the resources it needs to defend against its enemies. We should not stray from that policy today.”
Cardin warned that restricting arms sales to Israel would “put wind in the sails of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas at the worst possible moment.”
Republican senators were equally vocal in denouncing Sanders’ effort. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) described the resolutions as “absolutely shameful and morally bankrupt,” adding on X, “Hamas invaded Israel and murdered the most Jews since the Holocaust. Israel is fighting for its survival against Iran’s terror proxies. Bernie Sanders response? An arms embargo against Israel.”
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cautioned that approving the resolutions would embolden Israel’s enemies and undermine efforts for peace. “It would signal to the enemies of Israel, and the enemies of peace, that if they just stick with it they will win,” he said.
The Republican Jewish Coalition strongly criticized Sanders and his allies, labeling the resolutions a “dangerous new low for anti-Israel Democrats in the US Senate.” The group added, “History will judge the 18 senators who supported this effort—and their apologists—harshly.”
{Matzav.com}